Secret Inner Voice

The atmosphere in the room was relaxed but charged with anticipation. Imelda leaned back in her chair, arms crossed with a satisfied look, as I posed the question.

"Alright then, let's get into it," I said, breaking the silence. "I'm joining the Student Council. So, what positions will Edina and I have? Just members, or something more?"

Normally, new members start from the bottom, but this school is anything but normal. However, Protea High didn't operate like any other school; they made their own rules, and Imelda was known for taking full advantage of that. I'd heard bits and pieces about it, and I knew to expect the unexpected. 

However, Protea High didn't operate like any other school; they made their own rules, and Imelda was known for taking full advantage of that.

We were invited to join the student council, so I thought we would be given special positions. I hope I won't get into trouble because of my position. I will prioritize Violet. But that doesn't mean I won't work, even though I don't want to.

Imelda tapped her chin as if deep in thought, though I doubted she was seriously pondering the matter. Her face wore that familiar look—a mix of feigned concentration and barely contained amusement. Finally, she opened her eyes, looking as if she'd made a grand decision.

She finally opened her eyes and declared, "Oh yes, how about this? Violet will be the Secretary, and you, Nao, can be her assistant—besides a secretary, we don't have any other vacant positions right now."

Imelda beamed, but Alysha raised an eyebrow.

"Wait… does the position of 'Secretary's Assistant' even exist?" Alysha asked, her tone as skeptical as my own thoughts.

"Nope! But since Nao wants to look after Vio and doesn't want to be too tied to the council, I think it's perfect!" Imelda said with a satisfied smile, clearly proud of herself.

I sighed inwardly, a little annoyed but not surprised. This was Imelda's classic style—making up rules that suited her agenda without anyone daring to question it. I'd seen her bend the rules countless times, and each time it seemed she did it with ease and impunity. I feel annoyed seeing her behavior and envious that she can do whatever she wants sometimes.

See what I mean? I knew she wasn't seriously considering our positions. Her decision wasn't odd, so I would gladly accept it.

"Sounds good to me. What about you, Edina?" I turned to Violet, trying to meet her gaze, but she quickly looked away, her cheeks and the tips of her ears seemed to blush faintly, and her shoulders seemed tense. The color creeping into her face and ears worried me. 

Maybe this whole situation had shaken her more than I realized. I took a step closer, concern stirring in me.

"Edina, are you okay?" I asked, approaching her with concern.

Before I could get any closer, Alysha stepped between us, her face serious. "Brother, wait here for a moment. I'll handle this."

"Oh, sure," I replied, somewhat taken aback. It flowed out as if it were the natural thing to do.

"I'll step outside for a bit with Violet. Brother, wait here."

Her tone was light, but her eyes held a warning, and I halted, giving her a small nod. Alysha moved to Violet's side and whispered something to her. Violet nodded, her gaze still lowered. Whatever she said seemed to calm Violet, who responded with a slight nod. 

Did I do something wrong? I don't remember doing anything offensive. Maybe it's just a girl problem, so she doesn't want me to interfere, or maybe Violet feels more comfortable talking to another girl.

I had no idea what was going on, but something told me it was beyond my reach for now. I watched as Alysha took her hand, leading her out of the room with a reassuring grip.

As the door closed, I turned back to Imelda, who had a wide grin on her face.

As soon as they left, Imelda broke the silence. "You're really lucky, Nao~," she said with a mischievous smirk.

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Imelda just chuckled and waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, you'll find out. Eventually."

Her tone left me suspicious, and I narrowed my eyes. Imelda's cryptic hints were hardly reassuring, but I let it go for now. I was officially a member of the Student Council, and that meant taking on whatever responsibilities came my way, even if I wasn't thrilled about it. For Violet's sake, I'd follow through.

"Oh, by the way, how many members does this Student Council actually have?" I asked, looking around the sparsely decorated room. A big school like this should have a larger council, yet this room looked like it was built for an intimate gathering. For a school as large as Protea High, I would have expected more people to manage the place.

"Eight," Imelda replied, completely nonchalant.

"Just eight? For an entire school?" I frowned. "Isn't that way too few?"

Imelda shrugged. "We don't do selections for members. We just choose them." 

"Choose them?" I echoed, trying to understand her logic. "Is that another special rule?"

"Yep! A rule I made." She grinned proudly, enjoying my exasperation.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "So, you handpick members to make sure they're trustworthy?"

"Of course!" she said cheerfully, the glint in her eyes suggesting there was more to it.

I leaned closer, crossing my arms. "And the real reason?"

Imelda's confident smile faltered, and she looked away, fidgeting with her fingers. "Wh-what do you mean? My main reason is for the council's benefit, that's it."

I smirked, knowing her too well. "Did you make this rule to suit your personal preferences, President Imelda?"

Imelda's face went pale, and she stammered, "N-no! It's… it's not… not just that…"

Her usual composure cracked, and I couldn't resist the urge to mess with her a little. Approaching her desk, I placed my hands on the surface, leaning over her. "So, Imelda, did you make that rule to lighten your workload or for personal reasons?"

Imelda looked away, fidgeting, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. I reached forward, pinching her cheeks. "Why are you always like this, Imelda?!"

"Hurth… ith hurth…" she mumbled, wincing.

As I let go, the door swung open. Alysha and Violet returned, both looking confused at the scene in front of them. Alysha raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, while Violet just stared, looking slightly gloomy.

"Umm… what exactly are you doing, brother?" Alysha asked a mix of confusion and amusement in her voice.

"Oh, just a bit of... justice," I shrugged, letting go of Imelda's cheeks. She rubbed them, looking more embarrassed than hurt.

Alysha gave me an unreadable look, while Violet stood beside her, hands clasped in front of her chest, looking slightly downcast.

With a final sigh, I made my way to the sofa, patting the seat beside me. "Come on, Alysha, Edina—take a seat."

Alysha shrugged and sat down, casually pulling Violet with her. Violet still seemed out of sorts, her hands folded tightly in her lap. I could tell something was bothering her, but I didn't want to press her too much.

"Are you alright, Edina?" I asked, softening my tone. 

"N-no, I'm fine," she replied, a faint smile crossing her lips.

Her response felt forced, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was bothering her. Before I could probe further, Alysha's sigh caught my attention.

"Brother," Alysha cut in, her tone pointed. "You're the reason she's like this. Don't play innocent."

"What did I do wrong?" I asked, exasperated.

"Huh~, brother, you're not that dense, are you?" she muttered, crossing her arms.

"Me? What did I do wrong?" I asked, genuinely puzzled.

"Huh," she huffed, giving me a look that spoke volumes but provided no answers. Even Imelda gave a small shake of her head, clearly uninterested in explaining.

"I guess you'll find out soon enough," Alysha said cryptically, echoing the same words I'd used on her earlier. 

I wanted to press her for answers, but the school bell suddenly rang, cutting our conversation short.

"Well, time to get to class," Imelda announced, already heading for the door with a quick "Meeting adjourned!"

Alysha, Violet, and I followed her out, walking down the corridor together. Alysha made a point of placing herself between me and Violet, preventing me from talking to her directly. We walked in silence until we reached Violet's classroom on the second floor, where she nodded politely before slipping inside. 

Now, with just Alysha and me heading toward the third-floor classrooms, I felt the tension ease—if only slightly.

"Alysha, am I wrong for feeling this way?" I asked, voicing my doubt for the first time.

As we walked, Alysha gave me a sidelong glance. "I know you understand it deep down, but denying it won't make things easier. I want you to stop pretending it's not there," she said, choosing her words carefully. "But your expression shows it, too—you look almost haunted when you try to push these feelings away."

Her words struck a nerve. She knew me too well. I tried to deflect with a weak smile, but she could see through it. I fell silent, her words weighing heavily on me. It was true; my commitment to Evan's memory and my promise to protect Violet left me caught in a web of conflicting emotions. And yet, I couldn't bring myself to acknowledge feelings that could only add to the burden I already carried.

I forced a half-hearted smile. I knew she was right—this conflict in my heart was something I hadn't dealt with. But until I could make peace with the debt I owed Evan, I couldn't allow myself to look too closely at these feelings.

"I know, Alysha… but some things aren't that easy to shake off," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"I just hope you realize it before it's too late. I hope you'll find a way to ease this before it becomes too much," she replied, her hand gently resting on my shoulder. There was sympathy in her eyes—a rare vulnerability I didn't often see. 

I gave her a nod, but deep down, I couldn't make that promise. There was a heaviness that I carried, one tied to the promise I'd made to Evan Edina, to protect Violet no matter the cost. I'd chosen this path, even if it meant burying parts of myself along the way.

As we reached our classroom, I forced a smile, trying to shake off the weight in my heart. I could feel the weight of my guilt settling over me once more, like a shadow I couldn't escape. In protecting Violet, I'd keep my promise to Evan. But how long would I be able to keep my emotions under control? The guilt and obligation might always be there, but as long as I had people like Alysha and Violet to protect, that was enough for now.